Descartes’ Philosophy: Historical and Cultural Context
Historical Context of Descartes’ Philosophy
The thought of Descartes developed in the historical context of the first half of the seventeenth century, an era of contrasts, where artistic and cultural splendor (Baroque and Scientific Revolution) coexisted with war and disease. This century saw a mixture of optimism and pessimism. Politically, the dominant trend was instability and war. In Europe, there was a new distribution of forces in the Thirty Years War (1618-1648, “Peace of Westphalia”), in
Read MoreDinosaur Extinction: Impact Theory vs. Volcanism
We are facing a scientific text since it seeks an objective explanation of the world and its phenomena. In this case, the author explains the cause of the disappearance of the dinosaurs.
The text takes the form of a scientific paper released by the press, which justifies the use of a language level more accessible to a heterogeneous audience, such as the newspaper reader.
Asimov uses the following expressive techniques: first, exposition, as he explains both the impact theory and volcanism; secondly,
Read More19th Century Society: Positivism, Scientism, and Social Change
19th Century Society, Science, and Philosophy
The Rise of Positivism
The new literary movement was theoretically based on positivism, a philosophy inaugurated by Auguste Comte. Positivism, which reached its peak with the publication of Course of Positive Philosophy, focused on observable facts verifiable through experience. Comte argued that human reason should focus on positive sciences like mathematics, physics, biology, and chemistry, dispensing with theological and metaphysical concerns. This
Read MoreDurkheim and the Rise of Sociology of Education in the 19th Century
The Historical Context of the Emergence of the Sociology of Education
Durkheim’s Approach in the 19th Century
The concept of the sociology of education appeared in the 19th century, developed by Émile Durkheim. It was shaped by a social revolution in which the bourgeoisie gained power, becoming the foundation for companies to replace the estate system. These estates were established during the Middle Ages, where social rank was divided into nobility, clergy, and peasants.
Later, in the 15th century,
Read MoreSecondary Sector: Industry, Energy, and Economic Development
The secondary sector encompasses activities that involve the processing of food and raw materials through various, more productive processes. This sector typically includes steel, construction, mechanical engineering, chemistry, textiles, the production of consumer goods, computer hardware, and more.
Industry
Industry is the set of processes and activities aimed at transforming raw materials into processed products in bulk. To function, industry requires raw materials, machinery, and equipment.
Energy
Energy
Read More17th Century Europe: Crises and Transformations
Economic and Social Upheaval
By the middle of the 16th century, Europe began a series of crises that would last throughout the 17th century. These corresponded socially with the development of the bourgeoisie and ideologically with the need to experience a new worldview based on the concept of Reason. There were three main difficulties:
A) Economic and social crisis: The development of capitalism in this century was especially favored as a result of the growth of maritime trade, colonialism, and the
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